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There are many ways in which adults can effectively support and extend speech, language and communication development in children during early years, Firstly, it is important for the adult to adapt language according to the child’s needs and abilities, some children who have English as a second language may require the adult to point to objects. For example when speaking to a baby or toddler they would simplify the sentences for them to understand where as the older the child gets the more hard sentences can begin to be used. For example to a 1 year old you may hold out a biscuit and say the word where as an older child you would say would you like a biscuit.

Secondly; giving children the time and opportunity to communicate, it’s important to give children time to think about what has been said to them and if they don’t answer straight away and not answering for them, allowing them time to respond. Some children would require you to sound them all out but then you must get them to copy you and blend the sounds together whilst giving them time to process what you are telling them.